Germany to assist Colombo Port development

Colombo Port needs
further expansion to handle more container traffic

Colombo had the highest container handling growth in the world in 2018 and has now reached its fullest capacity.

“We will be delighted to hear from the new government measures being taken to expand capacity to handle more container traffic,” said the Chief Delegate of the German Industry and Commerce in Sri Lanka, Andreas Hergenrother at a conference on Sustainable Mobility, Traffic and Public Transport Solutions and Logistics held at Hilton Residences Colombo on Tuesday.

This was held alongside the visit of a top level business delegation from the German Industry and Commerce led by Dr. Stephan Hesselmann, Head of Unit Mobility Concept, Transport Policy at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy to discuss business with their Sri Lankan counterparts.

Mr. Hergenrother said that bilateral trade relationship with Sri Lanka is developing progressively.

German companies have been meeting for decades to discuss transport, logistics and mobility and in the field of energy efficiency. “We are confident that there are lots of opportunities for cooperation in the future that needs a reliable framework. A Sri Lankan delegation consisting of energy experts are scheduled to visit Germany in March this year,” he said.

Dr. Hesselmann said that he sees Sri Lanka as a land of opportunity where its geographical position is ideal for transport, business and the logistics side. “The world will be a better place for cooperation with businesses and trade relations are based on personnel meetings with mutual trust.”

German Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives Joern Rohde said that the Greater Colombo area attracts more people to the city and transport has become a big challenge like in Germany. Attractiveness of cities comes with mobility and transport solutions, he added.